First UK Independent Venue Week announced

The first ever UK Independent Venue Week has been scheduled for January 28th 2014, Music Week has reported.

Small venues from all over the UK are participating in the event, and will host several gigs over six days as part of the nationwide celebration.

The concerts are being curated by artists, promoters, labels and blogs, while the initiative is also being backed by the likes of Radiohead, Frank Turner, Travis and Keane.

PRS for Music, Music Glue, Musicians’ Union, Domino, Marshall and Cato Music are confirmed as industry partners.

"The struggle to compete with large, sponsor-backed venues makes it a tough and challenging time for independents,” commented the project’s organiser Sybil Bell. “Combine this with bands finding it harder to tour due to limited revenues and rising on-the-road costs and we can all see what a difficult climate live venues find themselves in."